Memorable moments for some Lee Hall students when 4th grader introduced Jill Biden at concert

NEWPORT NEWS— — Jaelen Franco apparently did such a good job introducing Jill Biden when she visited Lee Hall Elementary School in August, he was asked to do it again as part of inauguration festivities in Washington for President Barack Obama's second term.

Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted the Kids Inaugural Concert Jan. 19. The event at the Washington Convention Center honored military children and families as part of the pair's Joining Forces initiative to support them.

Franco, a 10-year-old 4th grader whose mother is in the Navy, was asked about a week before the event to do the introduction, according to Lee Hall Elementary School Military Support Counselor Alicia Lightell.

Around Tuesday of the following week, school officials were told tickets were available for some of his classmates to attend. So 40 Lee Hall 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students, as well as teachers and staff, bused up and back for a daylong trip to attend the concert.

Franco introduced Biden while standing on stage with her and "Dancing With the Stars" winner J.R. Martinez, who is a military veteran. Biden kissed Franco as he was leaving the stage, and then rubbed a lipstick smudge off of his face.

Biden began her remarks by thanking Franco for his introduction, welcoming the Lee Hall contingent and thanking his mother and family for their service to the country.

"I thought it was cool," Franco said of being asked to make the introduction, though he described the experience as "a little frightening."

"I thought she was really nice," Franco said. "She even gave me her own book written by her. And she autographed the book, too."

Franco said he's only had a few mentions of his time in the national spotlight since he returned to school, and that his favorite part of the concert was himself although he also enjoyed the music.

Performers included Usher, Katy Perry, boy band Mindless Behavior and cast members from "Glee." Nick Cannon served as emcee.

LaTesha Smith, Franco's mother, said she was thrilled to get the phone call asking if her son was interested in doing the introduction.

"We were ecstatic to be able to not only go and visit D.C. again, but to have the opportunity of a lifetime to be able to meet the president's wife," Smith said. "And not only her, but to see the second lady again. It was quite an excitement and an honor."

Smith, who was on active duty with the Navy for 11 years and is now a reservist, said she also liked the idea of a kids' event. She was seated very close to Biden and Obama, as well as first daughters Sasha and Malia Obama, at the concert.

"I think it was great, something for the kids with their parents serving in the military, something for them to do and something to look forward to," Smith said. "I'm sure they really enjoyed it."

Dawn DeBusk's son, John Robert, was among the 4th graders on the trip. The bus departed at 9 a.m. Saturday morning and got back in town Sunday at 1 a.m., she said.

"He was super-excited," DeBusk said. "He said it was a lot of fun, getting to hear all the music, all the performances and getting to see the Bidens there.

"He was very excited that his classmate was invited to introduce her, and said that he now had a celebrity in his class. He was just extremely excited. It took me hours to get him to bed."

Lightell said arrangements had to be made quickly because of the short turnaround time for the trip, but choices on who would go from Lee Hall were based on the students and teachers closest to Jaelen such as his current classmates and teacher.

Many of the students had never been to Washington, so passing the Washington Monument and seeing landmarks in the inauguration atmosphere was really special.

"It was so exciting," Lightell said. "They were just in shock. But at the event, with all the celebrities that were performing, the kids were just out of their skin."

Jaelen's introduction of Biden came close to the end of the event, and Lightell said the Lee Hall students shouted when Jaelen said he was from Lee Hall and again when Biden acknowledged Lee Hall students in the crowd.

"It was just unreal," LIghtell said. "Any other time, we would not have been able to attend this event. I don't know. I can't even put it into words."

Inaugural event

Lee Hall Elementary School 4th grader Jaelen Franco introduced Jill Biden at the Kids Inaugural Concert Jan. 19 at the Washington Convention Center in Washington. Forty students from the school, as well as teachers and staff, also attended the event.